Are you going to ask me into the royal penthouse, Your Highness?
In a heartbeat time melted, taking Amelia back to a year ago when this man had been her lifeline, her protectorher husband. Her skin prickled with awareness.
His eyes seemed to devour her inch by inch. She could tell he was angryperhaps dangerously so. Shed seen those veiled blue eyes looking just like that whenever anyone got in his way.
Please dont call me that.
What am I supposed to call you then? Not Melanie. Thats not your real name, is it?
You called me Mellie. That could be short for Amelia, as well.
Nicknames are a show of fondness. I use them for friends. Doesnt apply in this case.
Well, he certainly had sharpened his tigers claws during their separation. But shed be damned if she showed him how much he could hurt her.
Dear Reader,
Once again, Harlequin American Romance has got an irresistible month of reading coming your way.
Our in-line continuity series THE CARRADIGNES: AMERICAN ROYALTY continues with Kara Lennoxs The Unlawfully Wedded Princess. Media chaos erupted when Princess Amelia Carradignes secret in-name-only marriage was revealed. Now her handsome husband has returned to claim his virgin bride. Talk about a scandal of royal proportions! Watch for more royals next month.
For fans of Judy Christenberrys BRIDES FOR BROTHERS series, we bring you Randall Riches, in which champion bull rider Rich Randall meets a sassy diner waitress whose resistance to his charms has him eager to change her mind. Next, Karen Toller Whittenburg checks in with The Blacksheeps Arranged Marriage, part of her BILLION-DOLLAR BRADDOCKS series. This is a sexy marriage-of-convenience story you wont want to miss. Finish the month with Two Little Secrets by Linda Randall Wisdom, a delightful story featuring a single-dad hero with twin surprises.
This month, and every month, come home to Harlequin American Romanceand enjoy!
Best,
Melissa Jeglinski
Associate Senior Editor
Harlequin American Romance
The Unlawfully Wedded Princess
Kara Lennox
www.millsandboon.co.uk
MILLS & BOON
Before you start reading, why not sign up?
Thank you for downloading this Mills & Boon book. If you want to hear about exclusive discounts, special offers and competitions, sign up to our email newsletter today!
SIGN ME UP!
Or simply visit
signup.millsandboon.co.uk
Mills & Boon emails are completely free to receive and you can unsubscribe at any time via the link in any email we send you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Texas native Kara Lennox has been an art director, typesetter, advertising copywriter, textbook editor and reporter. Shes worked in a boutique, a health club and has conducted telephone surveys. Shes been an antiques dealer and briefly ran a clipping service. But no work has made her happier than writing romance novels.
When Kara isnt writing, she indulges in an ever-changing array of weird hobbies, from rock climbing to crystal digging. But her mind is never far from her stories. Just about anything can send her running to her computer to jot down a new idea for some future novel.
Books by Kara Lennox
HARLEQUIN AMERICAN ROMANCE
840VIRGIN PROMISE
856TWIN EXPECTATIONS
871TAME AN OLDER MAN
893BABY BY THE BOOK
917THE UNLAWFULLY WEDDED PRINCESS
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter One
I keep telling you, hes not really my husband. Princess Amelia Carradigne, granddaughter to the king of Korosol, didnt even glance up from where she sat on the window seat in her bedroom, filing her nails. She was trying to look calm, act calm, in the face of impending disaster, but her older sister, Cecelia, wasnt making it easy.
CeCe ceased her pacing and leaned down until she was eye to eye with Amelia. You said he was your husband, when he called to say he was on his way to New York.
Ive since consulted our lawyer. The marriage wasnt legalno way, no how.
He obviously means something to you. CeCe went to the walk-in closet and threw open the door. Dont you want to at least put on a dress, maybe some lipstick?
Nick has seen me without lipstick. It wont kill him. Actually, Nicholas Standish had seen her looking a lot worse than she did now. Almost a year ago, in the former Soviet state of Palemeir, hed seen her covered with dirt and bug bites, which was how she tended to get when she became deeply involved with a relief effort for the International Childrens Foundation. Shed been busy feeding hungry children, doling out medicine and helping them find a safe place to sleep at night. Her own fastidiousness was low on her priority list, even in the presence of the handsomest, most charismatic man shed ever met.
Amelia abandoned her nail file and turned to look out the window of the penthouse, which offered a magnificent view of Central Park. The city was in the middle of a dreary late-winter rain, but the park still looked inviting even though still wrapped in winters browns. Amelia wished she could go for a run in that park, just lose herself. Shed rather be anywhere than here, about to face the man shed lied to, then abandoned.
When Amelia turned back to see what her sister was up to, she was met by a bombardment of clothes. CeCe was pulling dresses out of the closet and tossing them at Amelia.
Put one of those on. Any of them will do.
Amelia hid a smile as she stripped down to her bra and panties. CeCe, with her sleek, chin-length hair, which she recently dyed reddish-blonde, and her peach silk suit, looked every inch the princess she wasmuch more so than Amelia, whose curly blond hair was always out of control, and whose wardrobe leaned toward jeans, T-shirts and simple dresses. CeCes nervous energy made her a whiz in the corporate boardrooms of DeLacey Shipping, where she was second in command to their mother, Lady Charlotte. In Amelias mind, that was just one step away from running a small country like Korosol.
But Amelia was the princess destined to inherit the throne of the tiny principality nestled between Spain and France. Though CeCe at twenty-nine was older than Amelia by two years, their grandfather, King Easton, had chosen Amelia after CeCe had politely declined the throne. Amelia was both honored and terrified by the prospect, amazed she would be trusted with such an awesome responsibility, and worried she wouldnt live up to the kings lofty expectations.
But she intended to do her best, to earn the trust her grandfather had in herif this recent scandal didnt cause him to disown her. CeCes unplanned pregnancy had made tabloid headlines around the world a few scant weeks ago, causing the king a lot of sleepless nights. Fortunately, CeCe had worked things out with the babys father, Shane OConnell, and they were now happily married.
Amelia wasnt sure her own scandal would have such a satisfying conclusion. It was entirely possible King Easton would change his mind about his latest choice of heir to the throne. He still had one more Carradigne sister available, twenty-six-year-old Lucia. Though Amelias younger sister was a free spirit, at least she hadnt stirred up any scandals.
So why didnt you tell us about Nicholas Standish? CeCe wanted to know, tugging a dress over Amelias head as if she were a doll and pulling up the zipper. Id have thought you would at least mention it to Ellie.
Eleanor Standish was Nicks younger sister and, proving it was a small world, a member of the kings personal staff who had traveled with him to New York to find an heir among his three granddaughters here. Amelia hadnt even realized Nick and Ellie were related until recently.
I thought Id never see Nick again, Amelia said, finally ending her self-imposed silence about her matrimonial misadventure. We were desperate. Marrying him was the only way he could get those two kids out of
Oh, yes. Ellie told us about her brother adopting two orphans. CeCe automatically put a protective hand to her tummy bulge, which even her expertly tailored suits could no longer disguise. Pregnancy had softened CeCe around the edges. Once known as the barracuda, she now melted at the mention of children.
Amelia sighed. WeNick and Iended up responsible for the children after their father died in a foreign embassy blast in Palemeir. Their mother was very sick at the time, and Nick promised her before she died, too, that he would personally care for the kids. But the only way for him to do that was to adopt them. And the only way the Palemeir government would push through the paperwork was if Nick was married. So we got married.
Thats extraordinary, CeCe said, pawing through Amelias drawers for a half slip and stockings. I mean, didnt you say hes a mercenary? Such a selfless act doesnt sound like the act of a guy who makes war for money. He must be something.
He is, Amelia agreed. When she realized how dreamy she sounded, she straightened her spine and frowned. Im not wearing stockings.
So why is he coming here? CeCe asked, tossing the underthings at Amelia as if she hadnt heard her.
I have no idea. Theyd said their goodbyes at the airport in Palemeir after shed surprised him by announcing she had to leave right away. The ICF was pulling out, and so was she. But tempted though shed been, there was no way she could live as a mercenarys wife in a small town, even if it was in the country of her heritage. She was destined for bigger thingslike inheriting a throne. Maybe being queen wasnt her first choice, but it was her duty.
Im fascinated by the whole thing, CeCe pronounced. Not just the secret marriage, but the physical risks you took. I knew you were traveling to dangerous areas, but I didnt picture you right there on the front lines.
There were no front lines in Palemeir, Amelia said. War was all around us. Thats why I was using the pseudonym, Melanie Lacey, so I could move around without people gawking or the press interfering with my work.
CeCe brushed an errant curl from Amelias cheek. I know youre not happy the king put a stop to your activities. But he couldnt allow the future queen of Korosol to risk her life in war zones.
Amelia understood. But she missed her adventurous life.
Still, she recognized that with the privilege of her birth came responsibilities, and she was not turning her back on them.
What are you going to do with this guy when he gets here? CeCe asked, digging through Amelias jumble of shoes in the closet. She selected a pair of white espadrilles, and probably would have shoved them onto Amelias feet if Amelia hadnt willingly stepped into them.
I dont know that, either. But shed better figure it out fast, because the door chimes were ringing impatiently.
CeCe dragged Amelia toward the bedroom door. Come on. Im dying to meet your Nick.
Dont call him my Nick. And dont leave me alone with him, Amelia implored.
No, never, CeCe replied with rippling laughter.
Hester Vanderling, the Carradignes housekeeper, met Amelia and CeCe at the bottom of the stairs. Oh, Amelia, theres a gentleman here to see you. Im not sure how he got past the downstairs security
Its all right. I told the guards to let him in, Amelia said, soothing Hester with a pat on the shoulder. The spry, gray-haired woman was more than a servant. Shed been a part of the family for twenty-five years, serving as nanny to the three Carradigne princesses.
Is this, um, the one? Hester asked in a whisper. The not-quite husband? Hesters feelings had been a bit injured when she learned of Amelias pseudo-marriage, splashed all over page seven in the Manhattan Chronicle by notorious gossip columnist Krissy Katwell. The princesses had always confided all their secrets in Hester, trusting her with things they never would have told even their mother.
Amelia wished now she could get Hesters advice on how to handle the situation. But there was no more time for wishful thinking, because there he was, standing in the foyer, looking even more large and masculine than Amelia remembered, especially with the Carradignes delicate antiques and pastel silk wall coverings as a backdrop.
Hello, Nick. Her voice came out a squeak.
Amelia.
In a heartbeat time melted, taking Amelia back to a year ago, when this man had been her lifeline, her protector, her hero. Her skin prickled with awareness just at the sight of him, and hed only said her name.
Once her tunnel vision returned to normal, Amelia realized Nick had the children with him, clinging to him like burrs. What were they doing here? Oh, how shed hated saying goodbye to them a year ago, almost as much as shed hated leaving Nick.